Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore



Maich 10, 1959 2,876,844

APPmwsFoR CEMENTING ALINER IN A WELL BORE F11 June 14, 1954 CF. WARNER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Cy/ffox c/ Warner IN V EN TOR.

A7 7' 0/?N5 VJ March 10, 1959 c. F.'WARNER "2,876,844

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING A LINER IN A WELL BORE! Filed June 14, 1954 /fla3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cl/ffora E Wame,

Mmh 10, 1959 APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING A LINER Filed June 14, 1954 I i FC. F. WARNER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN A WELL BORE (Th/for a" f. War/7 er IN VEN TOR.

: ited States Patent APPARATUS FOR 'CEMENTING A LINER IN A WELL BOREClifford F. Warner, Whittier, Califl, assiguor to Larldn Packer Company,Inn, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 14,1954, Serial No. 436,538 8 Claims. (Cl. 166-184) This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in apparatus for cementing a liner in awell bore.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatusfor cementing a liner in a well bore at the lower end of the wellcasing, wherein the liner is rotated during the cementing operation toprovide an improved bond between the liner and the well bore.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus for cementing a liner in a Well bore at the lower end of awell casing, wherein the liner has scratcher members thereon and theliner is adapted to be rotated to cause the scratchers to scratch thewalls of the well bore to remove mud and provide a roughened surface onthe walls of the well bore whereby cement which is pumped into theannular space between the liner and the well bore firmly bonds the linerto the well bore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus for rotating a liner during the cementing thereof in the wellbore, wherein the liner has a means thereon for scraping the well boreduring such cementing operation to improve the bond between the linerand the well vbore, the means for rotating the liner during thecementing operation being removable from the liner after the cement hasbeen pumped into position between the liner and the well bore.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and wherein:

Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section,illustrating the improved apparatus of this invention as it is loweredinto the well bore.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but illustrating the apparatusduring the rotation thereof and during the introduction of cement intothe annular space between the linear and the well bore.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating the liner afterit has been cemented in position in the well bore below the Well casingand during the washing operation. Figures 4, 4A, 4B and 4C are views,and partly in elevation, illustrating the complete apparatus of thisinvention in detail with theparts being'in the position for loweringinto the well bore.

In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the apparatus of thisinvention which is adapted to be lowcred into a well bore B below a welling string or support pipe 10. The apparatus A- includes a liner 12which is suspended from a swivel 14 connected to a liner hanger 15 whichis adapted to be set in the well casing C. Thus, when the liner hanger15 is set in the casing C, the

partly in section iatented. Maia-10, 1959- adapted to be rotatedrelative thereto through the swivel connection 14. A cement controlstructure or cement shoe 17 is mounted at the lower end of the liner 12and a perforated liner 18 is connected below the cement shoe 17 wherebyafter the liner 12 is cemented in position in the well bore B, fluid mayflow upwardly through the perforated liner 18 into the bore of the liner12 for flow to the surface of the well through the casing C. The settingof the liner hanger 15 at the upper end of the liner 12 and the rotationof the liner 12 after the hanger 15 has been set and during theintroduction of cement into the well bore B is accomplished by a controlrod device 20, as will be explained. The control rod device 20 isadaptedto be removed from the apparatus A after. the liner has beencemented in position in the well bore B to thereby leave the bore of theliner open for the conducting of the fluid from the well bore throughthe perforated liner 18.

The details of the apparatus A of this invention are shown in Figures 4,4A, 4B and 4C which illustratethe tool from its upper to its lower end,respectively. As best seen in Figure 4, the liner hanger 15 includes aplurality of gripping members or slips 25 which are adapted to engagethe inner surface or wall of the well pipe or casing C to support theliner 12 in the casing C. The slips 25 are supported on resilient orflexible arms 26, all of which are formed integrally or are otherwiseconnected to an annular band 27. The band 27 is connected to a pluralityof friction members or springs 29 which are bowed outwardly for constantengagement with the inside. of the well pipe or casing C. The lower endsof the friction springs 29 are connected to an annular lock? ing ring 30which has a J-slot 31 therein. The locking ring 30 surrounds a tubularsupport section 33 which extends from a threaded box 34 at its upper endto a swivel housing 35 at its lower end. When the tool is lowered intothe well, the liner hanger 15 is locked to the tubular support section33 by a pin 28 on the section 33 which extends into the J-slot 31(Figure 4). When it is desired to disconnect the locking ring 30 fromthe tubular support section 33, the section 33 is rotated or turned tothe left or counter-clockwise (as viewed from the top of Figure 4) so asto cause the pin 28 to move to a position just above the longitudinalportion 31a of the J-slot 31. Thereafter, upon a downward movement ofthe section 33 relative to the locking ring 30, the section 33 is freeto move without carrying therewith the locking ring 30 or the portionsattached thereto.

The tubular support section 33 includes a slip expander or cone 37 whichhas its outer surface tapered or inclined downwardly and inwardly at anangle similar to the inclination of the inner surfaces 235m of each ofthe slips 25, whereby upon downward movement of the slip expander 37with the tubular support section 33 the slips 25 are urged laterally orradially outwardly into gripping engagement with the well casing C. Itwill be understood of coursev that the friction springs 29 areconstantly in engagement with the well casing C and they prevent theslips 25 from moving downwardly. upon the downward movement of the slipexpander 37 and the tubular support 33 relative to the slips 25. It willbe evident that the connection of the pin 28in the slot 31 holds theslips 25 in a lowered position with respect to the slip expander 37 whenthe tool is being lowered into the casing or well bore so as to preventthe premature setting of the slips 25. When the slips 25 are set in thecasing C, the tubular section 33 is thereafter prevented liner 12 issuspended therefrom and from moving downwardly relative to the slips 25.An upper centralizer is mounted on the tubular section 33 which hasbowed friction springs 36 connected by an upper band 38 and a lowerbandSQtFigur'e 1) with the a a. 3 lower band being welded or otherwiseconnected to the section 33 so that the centralizer functions to holdthe section 33 and other partsabove the swivel 14 against rotation afterthe slips are set. This upper centralizer is very desirable although itcould be omitted if desired.

The swivel 14 (Figure 4A) may be formed in numerous ways, but as shownin the drawings, the swivel housing has an annular retaining plugthreaded into its lower end. A tubular swivel section or pipe 41 extendsupwardly into the swivel housing 35 and has an annular flange 42 thereonwhich extends laterally into housing 35 above the annular plug 40. Aplurality of circumferentially arranged ball bearings 43 are positionedabove the flange 42 and a plurality of circumferentially arranged ballbearings 44 are disposed below the flange 42 so that a double racebearing is provided in the swivel 14, where by the, section or pipe 41is free to rotate relative to the swivel, housing 35 and the tubularsupport section 33 connected thereto. I

The lower end of the swivel pipe 41 is connected to a collar 46 whichhas longitudinal recesses or keyways 47 formed on the inner surfacethereof, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The lowerend of the collar 46 is connected to the liner 12 which has secured onits external surface a plurality of scratcher members 50 which aresuitably positioned so that substantially the entire wall of the wellhere B is scratched or scraped upon a rotation of the liner 12. Each ofthe scratcher members 50 includes a plurality of laterally or radiallyextending scratchers or wires 51 which are mounted on a plate 52 whichin turn is welded or otherwise secured to the external surface'of theliner 12. Thus, as the liner 1 valve end of the pipe 61 and isessentially the same as that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,488,819 issuedto I. I. Larkin. An adapter 75 connects the lower end of the pipe 61with the sleeve 76, which sleeve 76 is in turn threaded or otherwiseconnected to the perforated liner 18. Disposed within the upper end ofthe sleeve 76 is a slidable valve 77 formed of Bakelite, an aluminumalloy, or any other similar drillable material. When the valve 77 is inits upper position (Figure 4C), it closes flow ports 78 which are formedin the wall of the sleeve 76. The valve 77 is retained in its upper orclosed position by means of shear pins 80 which are also preferablyformed of a plastic such as Bakelite and which extend from the 77 intoan annular collar 81. The collar 81 rests on or abuts the upper end of aresilient or elastic packing sleeve 82 which surrounds the sleeve orbody 76. A plurality of wedges 83 are positioned within a tapered groove81a of the collar 81 and each preferably has upperly directed teeth 8311on their inner surfaces for en- 12 is rotated, the walls of the wellbore B are scratched I or scraped to removemud or other material whichwould interfere with proper cementing action when cement is pumped intothe annular space between the exterior of the liner and the walls ofthewell bore B.

It is'desirable to locate a back check valve below the liner 12 to closefluid flow upwardly into the liner 12 during the lowering operation. Avalve housing 56 is connected to the lower end of the liner 12 and hasan inner sleeve 57 therein with a bore 57a: therethrough which is closedby the check valve 55. Thesleeve 57 is formed of concrete or otherdrillable material. The valve is normally held in a closed position(Figure 48) by a suitable spring (not shown) mounted at the hinge of 55aof the valve 55. The valve 55 is of course adapted to be swung orpivoted downwardly to an open position when the pressure thereabove,exceeds by a predetermined amount the pressure therebelow, whereby thevalve 55 serves as a back check safety valve.

A swivel 58 is provided below the liner 12 and the valve housing 56 by aswivel adapter 59 which has a threaded connection with the lower endof-the valve housing 56. A swivel collar 60 is connected to the swiveladapter 59 and such collar 60 has an inwardly extending radial shoulder60a. A tube or pipe 61 which forms a continuation of the liner 12 issupported in the swivel 58 by a lock ring 62 which fits into an annulargroove 61a in the exterior of the pipe 61 and which serves to retain thepipe 61 against longitudinal movement relative to the swivel 58.Bearings 63 and 64 are also provided in the swivel 58 to facilitate theswivel action thereof. A centralizer which includes a plurality of bowedspring members 70, all of which are connected to an annular band 71 attheir upper ends and a similar band 72 (Figure 1) at their lower ends,serves to maintain the apparatus centrally positioned as it is loweredinto the well bore. The upper band 71 is free to move longitudinallyrelative to the pipe 61, but the lower band 72 is welded or otherwiseaffixed to the pipe 61, so that as the centralizer fnctionally engagesthe well bore B, it also serves to prevent rotation of the pipe 61 andother parts below the swivel 58.

- downward movement of the collar 81 is prevented, but the gaging theexterior of the body or sleeve 76. The wedges 83 are adapted to permitdownward movement of the collar 81 but upon upward movement of thecollar 81, the teeth 83a engage the external surface of the body 76 toprevent such upward movement. When it is desired to move the valve 77downwardly to open the ports 78 to permit the flow of cement to the wellbore for cementing the liner into position, a ball is droppeddownwardly'through the apparatus for seating on an annular seat 77a soas to close the bore 77b of the valve 77. Thereafter, the valve 77 ispumped downwardly by the fluid pressure or the pressure of the cementthereabove so as to move the valve 77 downwardly with respect to thesleeve or body 76. Such downward movement causes the collar 81'to alsomove downwardly and thereby the annular packing element 82 is compressedor expanded into sealing the engagement with the walls of the well boreB. When the packing element 82 has been fully expanded into a setposition in the well bore B, further pressure still acts on the valve 77to urge it downwardly with the result that the shear pins 80 are severedor sheared to permit the valve 77 to continue its downward movement. Thedownward movement of the valve 77 continues until it is stopped by anannular stop ring 86 mounted at the lower end of the body or sleeve 76and it will be apparent that as soon as the upper end of the valve 77has passed below the ports 78, such ports 78 will be opened and cementor other fluid will be directed through the ports 78 into the well boreabove the annular packing element 82. The wedges 83 prevent the releaseof the packing element 82 after the pins 80 have been sheared.

The perforated liner 18 is of conventional construction and includes thesleeve 90 having openings 91 therein to permit the well fluid to flowtherethrough. The usual bull plug or nose plug 92 is mounted on thelower end of the perforated liner 18.

The control rod assembly 20 for manipulating the apparatus for thesetting of the liner hanger 15 and for rotating the liner 12 during theadmission of cement into the well bore, includes a control pipe 93(Figures 4, 4A and 4B) which has its upper end threaded into an annularnut 94. The threads 93a on the upper end of the control rod 93 and thethreads 10a on the lower end of the tubing string or support pipe 10 areright hand threads whereas the external threads on the nut 94 are lefthand threads 94a. The nut 94 is thus releasable from the thread 34 upona rotation of the'tubing string 10 to the right or in a clockwisedirection (as viewed from above rality of clutch members or in Figure4).

The control rod 93 has mounted thereon a clutch member housing 95(Figure 4A) which has a plurality of Iongitudinal slots therethroughthrough which extend a plukeys 96 which are resiliently 97 or any othersimilar resilurged outwardly by springs The cement shoe 17' is connectedbelow the lower 75 ient means disposed between the rear surface 96a ofthe clutch members 96 and a retaining plate 98 in the housing 95. Whenthe apparatus is lowered into the well bore, and the nut 94 is connectedto the left hand threads 34, the clutch housing 95 and the partsconnected therewith are positioned below the clutch collar 46. After thehanger 15 is set in the casing C, the nut 94 is released by a. rotationto the right or in a clockwise direction and then the control rod 93 israised upwardly to permit the clutch members 96 to be urged into thekeyways or longitudinal grooves 47, wherebya rotative connection betweenthe control rod 93 and the liner is established. Thereafter, uponrotation of the tubing string or support pipe 10, such rotation isimparted to the liner 12 to cause the scratcher members 50 to scratchthe inside surface of the well bore B. During such rotation cement ispumped downwardly through the tubing string ltl'and through the controlrod 93 discharging from the lower end of rod 93. To prevent the cementand other fluid from passing upwardly into the liner 12, one or moreinverted casing swab cups 99 are mounted on rod 93. These cups 99 make asubstantial sealing engagement with the bore of liner 12 under pressurefrom below.

The operation of the apparatus and the method of this invention is bestillustrated by referring to Figures 1-3. In Figure l, the apparatus isshown with the parts in the relative position they assume as theapparatus is lowered into the well bore. The nut 94 is connected to thethreads 34 so that there is a direct connection between the tubingstring and the sleeve 33. During such low ering operation, the pin 23 ispositioned in the slot 31 so that the liner hanger is carried downwardlywith the apparatus as it is lowered into the well bore. When theapparatus has been lowered to a position wherein the hanger 15 ispositioned at the lower end of the casing C with the rest of theapparatus extending down into the open well bore B (Figure 1), thetubing string 10 is turned to the left or counter-clockwise to move thepin 28 into the open portion 31a of the slot 31 (Figure 4) at which timea lowering of the tubing string 10 will release the sleeve 33 from theslip hanger 15. The liner hanger 15 is prevented from moving downwardlyafter the pin 28 has been released from the slot 31 by reason of thefriction or drag springs 29 on the inside of the casing C. As the sleeve33 is then lowered with the lowering of the tubing string 10, the slipexpander or cone 37 moves downwardly to coact with the slips 25 to movesame radially outwardly into firm gripping engagement with the casing C(Figure 2). Thereafter, the tubing 10 is rotated to the right orclockwise to disconnect the nut 94 from the threads 34 (Figure 4)whereby the tubing 10 can be raised upwardly relative to the liner 12.This, of course, moves the control rod assembly upwardly and moves theclutch members 96 into the keyways or clutch grooves 47 in the housing46 whereby a direct rotative connection is established between thetubing string 10 and the liner 12 (Figure 2). Thereafter, rotation isimparted to the liner 12 by rotating the tubing string or support pipe10. During such rotation, cement is pumped downwardly through the tubingstring 10 and the control rod 93 for discharge from the lower endthereof. The cement pressure urges the safety back check valve 55 to anopen position (Figure 2) and the pressure is then exerted on the valve77, the ball 85 having been previously dropped prior to the admission ofthe cement. Thus, the cement pressure acts to urge the valve member 77downwardly, and as previously explained the downward movement ofthevalve member 77 serves to expand the annular packing element 82 intosealing engagement with the well bore B and also moves the valve 77 to aposition below the lateral ports 78, whereby the cement is dischargedthrough the ports 78 but is prevented from flowing into the well borearea below the annular packing element 82. By reason of the rotation ofthe scratchers 50 during the admission of the cement into the well hereB, the walls of the well bore are sub stantially free from mud and otherimpurities which might: otherwise prevent a firm bond between the liner12 and the well bore B with the cement. Also, the movement of thescratcher members 50 tends to agitate the cement as it flows into theannular space between the liner 12 and the well bore C to assure auniform distribution of the cement in such annular space.

After the cement has been pumped downwardly in a sufiicient quantity tofill the annular space between the liner 12 and the well bore B, theentire control assembly 20 is removed from the liner and the linerhanger by lifting upwardly on the tubing 10. Due to the upper inclinedor sloped edges 96a of the clutch members 96 and similarly inclined orsloped edges 47a in the grooves 47, the upward movement of the tubingstring 10 is sufiicient to cause the clutch members 96 to retract andthereby permit the release of the clutch members 96 from the grooves 47so that the entire control assembly 20 can be removed from theapparatus. As shown in Figure 3, a washing action can be performed afterthe cement step in order to clear out any excess mud or cement remainingin the casing C above the liner hanger 15. Thus, with the lower end ofthe control rod 93 positioned above the liner hanger 15, a washing fluidis pumped downwardly through the tubing string and the control rod 93for discharge from the lower end thereof whereby a circulation is set upin the casing to remove mud and cement from inside the liner 12 andthereabove. After the washing operation, the entire control rod assembly20 is removed from the well and the usual drilling apparatus (not shown)is lowered into the liner 12 to drill'out-the check valve sleeve 57,check valve 55, and the portions of the cement shoe 17 within the sleeveor body 76 such as the valve member 77, as well as any cement in theliner which has not been washed out during the washing step. Thus, thebore of the liner is completely open from the screen 18 upwardly.Thereafter, production from the well formation will be obtained by thewell fluid flowing into the liner 12 through the ports or perforations91 in the perforated liner 13 and thence upwardly through the casing Cto the surface of the well.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereofand various changes in the size,shape and materials, aswell as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore below a wellcasing in the well bore, a liner, a liner hanger above the liner forgripping the casing to support said liner in the well bore and belowsaid casing, a swivel connection between said liner hanger and saidliner for permitting rotation of said liner relative to said linerhanger, scratcher members on said liner for scratching the walls of thewell bore upon a rotation of the liner, and means for rotating saidliner in the well bore to effect the rotation of said scratcher members.

2. An apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising, ahanger for suspending the apparatus in a well, a cement shoe having aresilient packing element thereon, valve controlled port means in thewall of the cement shoe above the packing element, means for expandingthe packing element into contact with the wall of the well by fluidpressure and for opening said port after the packer is expanded, arotatable liner swivelled to and interconnecting the hanger and cementshoe, and scratcher members on the rotatable liner.

3. An apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore below a wellcasing, comprising a liner, a liner hanger above said liner for grippingthe casing to support said liner in the well bore below the casing, atubular member swivelly connected to said liner, scratcher members onsaid liner for scratching the Walls of the well bore upon a rotation ofthe liner, means for rotating said liner in the well bore to effect therotation of said scratcher members, said liner hanger including casinggripping slips adapted to engage said well casing in gripping contacttherewith, said tubular member extending through said liner hanger andhaving a slip expander member thereon, a swivel connection between saidliner and said tubular member whereby said liner is rotatable relativeto said liner hanger after said liner hanger is set in gripping contactwith said well casing.

4. An apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore below a wellcasing, comprising a liner, a liner hanger above said liner for grippingthe casing to support said liner in the well bore below said casing,scratcher members on said liner for scratching the walls of the wellbore upon a rotation of said liner, means for rotating said liner in thewell bore to effect the rotation of said scratcher members, said linerhanger including a tubular body swivelly connected to said liner topermit rotation of the liner relative to the tubular body, casinggripping slips surrounding said tubular body and adapted to movelaterally into gripping engagement with the well casing, a slip expanderon said tubular body for urging said slips radially into the grippingengagement with the well casing, a releasable connection between saidslips and said tubular body, and means to release said releasableconnection to permit longitudinal movement of said tubular body relativeto said slips to effect a longitudinal movement of said slip expanderrelative to said slips for urging said slips into gripping engagementwith the well casing.

5. An apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore, comprising a firstliner, scratcher members on said first liner for scratching the walls ofthe well bore upon a rotation of said first liner, means for rotatingsaid first liner in the well bore to effect the rotation of saidscratcher members, a means for introducing cement through the firstliner and into the well here during the rotation of said first liner, acement shoe on the lower end of said first liner, a perforated linerpositioned below said cement shoe, and a swivel connection between saidcement shoe and said first liner whereby said first liner is rotatedwithout rotating said cement shoe and said per forated liner. 7

6. An apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising, a firstliner, scratcher members on said first liner for scratching the walls ofthe well bore upon a rotation of said first liner, means for rotatingsaid first liner in the Well bore to effect the rotation of saidscratcher members, a cement shoe swivelly connected on the lower end ofsaid first liner, a perforated liner depending from said cement shoe,said cement shoe having a valve sleeve member therein adapted to bemoved longitudinally upon the application of fluid pressurethereagainst, said cement shoe also having a resilient packing elementthereon adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the wellbore by said valve member as it is moved downwardly in the cement shoeby fluid pressure, said shoe also having a lateral port therethroughabove said packing element which is uncovered by the valve member whenthe packer is expanded for permitting fluid to flow from said firstliner into the well bore above said packing element and said perforatedliner.

7. An apparatus adapted to be lowered into a well bore on a support pipefor cementing a liner in a well bore, comprising a liner, scratchermembers on said liner for scratching the walls of said well bore upon arotation of said liner, means for rotating said liner in the well boreto effect the rotation of said scratcher members, means for introducingcement through the liner and into the well bore during the rotation ofsaid liner, said means for rotating said liner including a control rodsupported by said support pipe, a clutch member on said control rodhaving laterally movable clutch projections thereon, and a clutchadapter sleeve on said liner having longitudinal grooves therein forreceiving said clutch projections to thereby establish a rotativeconnection between said liner and said control rod whereby rotation ofsaid control rod imparts a rotation to said liner.

- 8. The structure set forth in claim 7, including a releasable threadedconnection between said liner and said control rod for preventingrelative longitudinal movement of said control rod with respect to saidliner during the lowering of said apparatus into the well bore, saidreleasable connection being released to permit longitudinal movement ofthe control rod with respect to the liner for effecting the engagementof said projections with said grooves in said clutch adapter sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

